Means for cleaning oil and gas wells



Aug. 24,1926. 1,597,180

F. E. CROTTO MEANS FOR CLEANING OIL AND GAS WELLS Filed'May 12, 1925 Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES maar .El @were .0F Twee @Messve- FQR CIJEVANING OIL AND GAS WELLS.

Application filed May 12, `1925,. Serial No. 29,585. r

.by dropping cable tools to stir up the deposits and then removing, either with the sand pump, or an' ordinary bailer. This process is 'slow and expensive, particularly where the pump is used.

The object of my invention is to clean a well in a more elective, expeditious and economical manner. i

A particular obyect ot the invention is to clean a well by sinking a receptacle in the bottom of the well and forcing the deposits intothe receptacle by mea-ns of a fluid under pressure delivered to the casing outside the receptacle and then trapping the deposits in the receptacle and subsequently elevating the receptacle fer dumping The advantage of such a method is the rapidity with which the work may be carried out Ias well as the small equipment required; the compressed lluid serving not only to elevate the deposits into the recepta cle, but to agitate them, thus avoiding running tools into the well.

A construction designed to carry out the .invent-ion will be hereinafter described together with other features of' the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following speciw 'lication 'and by reference to the accompanying'drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a Y well equipped for carrying out my invenend of the casing a head 11 is screwed or otherwise fastened thereon so as to be read- 'ily removed. The head extends upwardly the casing and has stuflngboxA 1Q at its upper era-L fluid supply its ters the side of the head between the box and the upper edge of the casing. A str-ing oit pump tubing 14 entends down through the stul'ling bon' into the well.

A tubular receptacle 15, which for convenience may be called a bailer, is lowered through the casing to the bottom of the well. The bailer is less in diameter than the internal diameter of the casing, so as to leave a space therebetween.` The bailer has 'a valve ring 1.6 fastened in its lower end, the `lower edge ot" said ring being beveled, A foot valve 17, in the form or' a disk, is hinged to the upper edge of the ring so as to seat thereon.

In the upper end of the bailer is fastened a sleeve 18 having its upper edge beveled. The sleeve has a conical seat 19 tprmed with a counter bore 20, whereby an annular inwardly directed lip 21 is 'formed at the bottom of the sleeve. In order to raise and lower the bailer' in the well an ordinary trip hook (not shown) is lowered into the well and dropped through the counterbore 2O and engaged with the lip 2.1.A After the bailer has been set the hcok is tripped and elevated leaving the bailer to settle of its own weight into the deposits at the bottom of the well.

Fluid under pressure is delivered from a suitable source, such as an air compressor, to the casing` 10. As the casing is illed and the pressure is built up, the fluid passes down between the bailer and the casing and stirs up the deposits in seeking an outlet through the bailer. In order to prevent the fluid entering the upper end of the bailer and to provide an escape tor the fluid passing into the bottom 01' the bailer, the tubing 14 is lowered to the bailer. On the lower end of the tubing is screwed a coupling 22 which is internally screw threaded to receive a nipple 23 having a downwardly flared collar 24.

Un the collar is mounted an annular packing ring 25 contined by a sleeve 26 on the lower end of the coupling. The tubing is lowered so that the nipple enters the bore 2() and the packing ring 25 engages the seat 19 of the sleeve 18, thus packing olf the top of the bailer. The fluid flowing up through the bailer escapes through the tubing` 14. The upward movement of the fluid carries the de Josits into the bailer past the foot valve 1l. llVhen the bailer is lilled, thetubing; 1t is remcved :irrita the well. and the CIL bailer is then elevated and dumped, as hereinbefore explained. If necessary the ba-iler is again lowered into the Well and the operation repeated. The supply of compressed fluid is of course shutol after the `bailer is lilled and while it is being raised and lowered.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modiications and alterations may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What- I claim, is:

l. Means for cleaning a well comprising, a receptacle adapted to be set at the bottom of a well, means for supplying Huid under pressure to elevate deposits into the receptacle, a valve for closing the bottom of the receptacle7 and means for conveying the fluid from the receptacle.

2. Means for cleaning a well comprising, a receptacle adapted to be set at the bottom of the casing, a closure for the casing above the receptacle, means for supplying a compressed liuid to the casing below the closure, and means for conducting the fluid from the receptacle.

8. In a well cleaning equipment, a bailer adapted to be set at the bottom of a well, a valve at the bottom of the bailer, a seat at the top of the bailer, a conductor entering the seat, and a packing carried by the conJ duotor engaging the seat.

4f. In a well cleaning equipment, a bailer adapted to be setat the bottom of a well, a

valvey at the bottom of the baile-r, a seat at.

the top of the bailer, a conductor entering the sea-t, a packing carried by the conductor engaging Vthe seat, and a closure for the casing through which the conductor passes.

5. In a Well cleaning equipment, a bailer adapted to be set at the bottom of a well, a valve at the bottom of the bailer, arseat at the top of the bailer, a conductor entering the seat, apaclring carried by the conductor engaging the seat, a closure for the casing through which the conductor passes, and a pipe entering the closure for supplying a fluid under pressure.

6. In a well cleaning equipment, a casing head for mounting on the upper end of the casing, a stufling box carried by the head, a Huid supply entering the head, a' discharge tubing passing through the stufmg box, and a receptacle adapted to be set at the bottom of the well having fluid tight connection with the tubing and provided with a foot valve.

7. As a subLcolnbination in a. well cleaning equipment, a tubular receptacle Chamber having a foot valve opening into the chamber at its lower end, and an internal sleeve at the upper vend of the receptacle including a packing seat and a. lip for a trip hook.

8. As a sub-combination in a well cleaning equipment, a tubular receptacle having a seat in its upper end, an escape pipe, a nipple on the lower end of the tubing or passing through the seat in the receptacle, and apacking ring Carried by the nipple and engaging in the seat of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

FRANK E. CROTTO. 

